The article, "Osseointegration of Coarse and Fine Textured Implants Manufactured by Electron Beam Melting and Direct Metal Laser Sintering," explains that electron-beam melting produces a coarse-textured implant, while direct-metal laser sintering can create either a fine or coarse surface. The researchers report substantial differences between the two types of implants, based on the results of mechanical testing to assess osseointegration and torsional properties, and measurement of bone-volume fraction and bone-implant contact.Share this Article on Twitter

Skeptics Doubt AM Fits Mass Production—Just Wait
This article from The Economist compares the rise of additive manufacturing (AM) to Henry Ford's development, in 1913, of the assembly-line process to build cars, and the onset in the 1980s of the Toyota production system. It recalls Chuck Hall's 1983 invention of stereolithography, and fast-forwards to the use of metal AM in the medical and aerospace fields.

"But skeptics still rule the roost when it comes to goods made (by AM) in high volumes," the article states, adding, "Such skepticism looks less and less credible." It links to another article from The Economist that details some of the new AM methodologies that will allow the perceived shortcomings (speed and cost) to be overcome.

A Revolution in the Field of Powder Metallurgy
Learn here of a new titanium alloy (structured similarly to Ti-6 Al-4V) that has been designed for 3D metal printing using what is referred to as a "revolutionary powder-metallurgy method." It promises to deliver strength, ductility, fracture toughness and other benefits of the alloy, without the associated exorbitant costs.

This article, from AZoM, an online resource for the materials-science community and sponsored by Tekna Plasma Systems, highlights the process used to produce the powders to ensure the required spherical geometry and packing density of the particles in the additive-manufacturing layers.

Caterpillar's Grand AM Plan
...includes building the infrastructure to ensure that 3D printing nourishes the company's engineering teams as it strives to continually innovate. The Caterpillar hub-and-spoke AM model features a newly minted inhouse AM factory, supported by a service-bureau network that's moving AM ideas from the design suite into production.

Quick Simulation Pays Dividends
Able to rapidly assess part buildability and performance, simulation software is an ideal addition to any AM user's toolkit.

In The Next Issue

☉ A Roundup of the Issues Surrounding AM for Medical Applications☉ A Visit with the Innovation Team at Buffalo Manufacturing Works☉ TCT Show Preview☉ New Column: Reader Q & A, with Caitlin Oswald, AM Specialist, LAI International